Cycle crema: Britain’s 65 bicycle-themed coffee and cake stops

The “cafe stop” is a tradition in cycling. Cyclists love tea and coffee, and eat lots (they need carbs and caffeine to fuel the ride). The following cafes – often owned and run by cyclists – use cycling as part and parcel of their ambience. Some are out in the sticks, others are urban. Either way, get to them by inputting the cafe postcode into the BikeHub cycle satnav app. If your favourite cycle-themed cafe is missing from our list tweet details to @bikehub. Bike Hub is the cycle industry’s levy scheme, supporting the future of cycling.

THE DYNAMO200 Putney Bridge Road, SW15 2NA
Turn up at The Dynamo in Lycra and get a 10 percent discount on your drink or meal. The Dynamo is a “cycle cafe where you can hang your bike, repair a puncture, eat pizza and drink beer.” It also has a basement cycle workshop with a “beer fridge and TV for after the ride.” According to the cafe’s website people “ride from all over the city to eat The Dynamo’s breakfast.” This includes Toasted Banana bread and Lemon Curd, Avocado & Poached Eggs with feta and Ancho Chilli, Blueberry Pancakes with streaky bacon and Roasted Apples. In the afternoon and evening The Dynamo becomes a pizza restaurant, with pizzas named after famous Grand Tour climbs such as the Giro d’Italia’s Stelvio and the Tour de France’s Tourmelet.
Tel: 020 3761 2952. Mon-Weds 7am-10pm. Thurs-Sat 7am-11pm. Sun 8am-10pm.

LOCK 7 CYCLE CAFE129 Pritchards Road, London, E2 9AP
More Hackney residents cycle to work than drive and Lock 7 lies on one of the borough’s key cycle routes, beside Broadway Market. Since 2008 “London’s first cycle cafe”, inspired by Copenhagen aims to get and keep people cycling. There’s hot drinks inside the original shop and now bike repairs and servicing take place in a workshop around the corner in Broadway Mews.info@lock-7.com Tel: 020 7739 3042.Mon-Sat 08.00-18.00; Sun 10.00-18.00.

SOHO BIKES26 Berwick St, London W1F 8RG
Opened in 2014 and co-owned by former UK mountain bike champion and manic commentator Rob Warner, Soho Bikes serves excellent coffee in slimline, multi-storey premises with a high-end bike shop at the back. It also has its own YouTube channel, with professionally produced video shows starring MTB heroes interviewed by the sweary, upbeat Mr. Warner.
Tel: 020 7439 9577. Mon–Fri 8am–7pm Sat 12noon–5pm.

LOOK MUM, NO HANDS!49 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HX and 125-127 Mare St, London E8 3RH
Probably Britain’s most famous cycle cafe, LMNH is the cafe with a brand, with merchandise including ‘podium pants’ in the colours of the Tour de France jerseys and quirky events on- and off-site, from cycle-themed craft to cycle powered cinema. Serving salads, cake and coffee, there’s also a bike workshop, with maintenance courses on offer, too.info@lookmumnohands.com
Tel: 020 7253 1025. Mon-Fri 07.30-22.00; Sat 08.30-22.00 Sun -09.00-22.00

RAPHA CAFÉ85 Brewer St, London W1F 9ZN
This fancy roadie hang-out in Soho opened in 2012 and expanded in February 2014. Coffees hail from international roasters, there’s pastries, baguettes and salads. Splurge on Rapha kit from the adjoining shop – it stocks the entire range – or admire the display bikes. With race screenings and film nights, there are a variety of social, club and women’s rides through the week.londoncycleclub@rapha.cc. Tel: 020 7494 9831.Mon-Fri 08.00-21.00; Sat 08.30-19.00; Sundays and Bank Holidays 10.00-18.00.

SOUTH

BICICLETTA1-2 Market Walk, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1JZ
“Coffee con Velo,” says the shop front, “coffee with bicycles.” This bike shop and cafe opened in 2015 on the route that the Tour de France took through Saffron Walden. It’s the base for the Walden Velo cycling club.info@biciclettavelo.com. Tel: 01799 522814Open 7 days.

ZAPPI’s BIKE CAFE28-32 St. Michaels Street, Oxford.
Named after Italian pro cyclist Flavio Zappi, the eponymously-named bike cafe is now under new ownership and is moving to new premises (so, it’s not open at the moment – consider this as a placeholder). The cafe was the base for Zappi cycling club which grew into a development team, with three weekly rides including Saturday and Sunday club rides and a youth team.info@zappisbikecafe.com.

ESPRESSO LIBRARY210 East Rd, Cambridge CB1 1BG
Arty cafe with bikes hanging from ceiling, for artisan coffees and homemade food, much of it veggie and vegan. Major cycling races are shown on a big screen. The shop co-owner leads a ride from the shop on Saturday mornings and Espresso Library also has a Strava club.
Tel: 01223 367333 Mon-Thur 7am-6pm. Fri-Sat 7am-10pm. Sun 8am-6pm

THE HUB22 High Street, Redbourn, Hertfordshire AL3 7LL
Friendly cyclist hangout with fancy coffee, organic ice cream and locally-sourced cakes. The Hub runs rides on the third Sunday of the month, of 25, 45 and 75km around the edge of the Chilterns, and weekly Wednesday turbo nights during winter (bring your own turbo trainer).hubmeister@hubcoffeebikes.com. Tel: 01582 792389.Tues-Sun 08.30-17.00

THE COGParsonage Place, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 5AT
The Cog’s homemade fare including curries, specials, cakes, granola and ‘the best coffee around’. One staff member being a tour photographer means stunning photos on the walls. Meanwhile the toilet is a Tour homage, painted green and white with red spots. There’s a rail (and locks) for securing bikes, while community events include an annual time trial in October, and a spring sportive is in the offing, to be decided.andy@andysimmonsdesign.co.uk. Tel: 01442 826146Mon-Sat 08.45-17.00; Sun 10.00-14.00

BIKE BEANS CYCLE CAFE5 Rectory Lane, Ashtead, Surrey KT21 2BA
As well as coffee and cake you can also order pedal assist at the Bike Beans Cafe in Ashtead as it’s an agency for an e-bike brand. If the weather’s warm head out to the wooden veranda. Bike Beans also offers cycle servicing.
Tel: 01372 272855. Tues 07.00–21.00, Weds-Fri 08:30-16.00; Sat 08.00-16.00; Sun 08.00-15.00.

VELO HOUSE5 St Johns Rd, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9TN
Opened in 2014 Velo House “was created by cyclists for cyclists and those who don’t realise they are going to become cyclists yet.” It has been nominated for the Society of British and International Design Awards. The cafe was formerly a bank, and also houses a bike shop and a workshop. There’s space for 45 people in the cafe with another 20 outside when the weather’s warm. Cyclists benefit from a bike parking area with locks provided. The tables are topped with maps featuring local rides.shop@thevelohouse.com. Tel: 01892 554 500

JAVA & JAZZThe Square, Lewes Road, Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5ES
Java & Jazz is a pizzeria and cafe in the middle of Ashdown Forest. It’s a favourite with celebs. “Not just one of my favourite places to eat in Forest Row, not just in Sussex – but also in the whole world,” said Ben Elton. Forest Row is the home town of former pro rider Sean Yates, one of the best ever domestique riders in the Tour de France.
Tel: 01342 826699Monday–Thursday 8.30am–10pm. Friday 8.30am–10.30pm. Saturday 8.30am–10.30pm. Sunday 9.30am – 4pm.

SOUTH WEST

ROUTE 2 CAFE BAR1 Monmouth Hill, Topsham, Devon, EX3 0JQ
Snuggled on the Exe Estuary Trail along NCN2, Route 2 describes itself as a licensed eco-cafe, with “famous” breakfasts and locally-sourced food in its eco-cafe with, among other eco measures, low energy lighting and rainwater harvesting. The shop hires out and sells bikes and accessories, the workshop offers repairs and maintenance and the cafe anything from fry ups to Dutch apple pie, and espresso coffee. Apartment accommodation and occasional live music are also available.info@route2topsham.co.uk. Tel: 01392 875085.Open daily 08.00-18.00 (later when events are on, phone to check).

MUD DOCK CYCLEWORKS & CAFE40 The Grove, Bristol BS1 4RB.
Mud Dock – opened in 1996 – is the grand-daddy of all the high-end cycling-themed bike-shop-cum-cafes in Britain. It was also an early creator of a cycling team, which was co-sponsored by a Spanish beer brand.
Tel: 0117 934 9734mail@mud-dock.co.uk. Sunday & Monday 10am to 5pm. Tuesday to Friday 10am to 10pm. Saturday 9am to 10pm.

ROLL FOR THE SOUL2 Quay St, Bristol, BS1 2JL
Founder Rob Wall wanted to create a focal point in Britain’s first cycling city where all types of cyclist – and those who don’t cycle – could mingle. The crowd- and council grant-funded result is a community interest company where punters’ money goes towards RFTS’s social aims – promoting cycling in Bristol. There’s bike hire, servicing and repairs, maintenance tuition and an event space upstairs for anything from meetings to live music, while downstairs the cafe sells Mediterranean food, using local suppliers where possible.
Tel: 07596 917946.Mon-Tues 08.00-18.00; Weds-Fri 08.00-21.00; Sat 10.00-21.00; Sun Closed

VELOTON22 Market Place, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8DD
“Social hub” and fancy coffee bar in the Cotswolds, where owner Martin Bult brought his coffee fanaticism over from a spell in Australia. With local and organic cakes and La Marzocca coffee, there’s Bianchi and Cinelli road bikes, mountain bikes and towns, too. There’s free group rides on Sunday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which start and end at the shop and the shop has a cycle club, too.sales@veloton.co.uk. Tel: 01666 504343.Summer open daily 08.30-17.00; Winter closed Mondays

CYCLECCINOThe Old Post Office, 7 Reforne, Portland, Dorset, DT5 2AL
The “other” Portland has miles of traffic free cycle routes (and a Cat 5 climb), and Cycleccino’s founder Adam wants to make it a peninsula recognised internationally for cycling. Portland’s only bike shop sells tempting Dorset flapjacks and cycle themed coffee, from yellow jersey to king of the mountain. There’s also servicing and repairs while you wait.sales@cycleccino.com. Tel: 07979348120.Mon-Tues/Thurs-Fri 08.30-17.30; Weds 08.30-16.00; Sat 08.00-17.00 Sun 09.00-16.00

CRANKED CUSTOM CYCLESGallery 15, The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B9 4AA.
Boutique bike-store serving speciality coffee, and homemade cakes and, according to the website, “good vibes.” Cranked is also the new venue for Birmingham’s Bicycle Lounge, an evening of cyclingness run by the producers of Bicycle The Film. (The Custard Factory has another connection to cycling – it’s the former premises of Alfred Bird and Sons, the food business famous for its eggless custard powder. Sir Alfred Frederick Bird, the elder son of the founder, was a champion tricyclist, and an energetic member of the Cyclists’ Touring Club in the 1880s and 1890s. Bird was part of a deputation that went to the Corporation of Birmingham to protest at the state of roads on behalf of cyclists.)
Tel: 07471 479892 Mon-Fri: 10am-5:30pm. Sat: 10am-6pm.

SPOKE & CO
Cycle themed café/bike shop and repair workshop, opened in September 2016. Named as one of the Sustrans’ top 12 cycling cafes in the UK.105 Trent Boulevard, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 5BA
Tel: 01159 812255

NORTH WEST

EUREKA CYCLISTS’ CAFETwo Mills, Parkgate Road, Woodbank, Chester, CH1 6EZ
Serving cyclists since 1929, Eureka is a hive of road and off-road biking activity, attracting, on a good weekend most of the North West’s cycling clubs, according to owner Anne Peek. Eureka’s cakes (homemade by Anne and daughter), and “beans and a spare [toast]” are legendary, while famous riders drop by periodically.anne.peek@talk21.com. Tel: 0151 339 5629.Weds 08.30-17.00; Fri 09.30-15.00; Sat & Sun 08.30-17.00; Bank Holidays 09.00-16.00

GREYSTOKE CYCLE CAFEGreystoke, Penrith, Cumbria
You’ll find Greystoke where the Lands End to John O’Groats and C2C cycle routes meet. For weary travellers there’s towels and bike oil, pumps and maps, drinks, a tea garden and camping, and an impressive variety of quirky workshops including blacksmithing, artisan cheese making, calligraphy and knife forging.annie@greystokecyclecafe.co.uk. Tel: 01768 483984.Open daily 10am-6pm Easter to the end of September for cyclists and Fridays, Saturdays and the second Sunday of the month out of season.

THE COURTYARDThe rear of 92 King Street, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6ED
At the Courtyard you can sit surrounded by bicycle history, with high wheel “ordinaries” on the windowsills, and what is claimed to be the largest collection of English-made machines in the world, including a Regency hobby horse. There’s a cobbled courtyard outside and on the menu there’s soup of the day, risottos, curries, salads and tarts.keith@thecourtyardknutsford.co.uk. Tel: 01565 653974Mon-Sat 09.30-16.30; Sun 10.00-16.00

NORTH EAST

IMPROMPTU TEA ROOMElsdon, Northumberland NE19 1AA
The former school house in Elsdon is home to the Impromptu Tea Room. The building dates back to the early 1700s. The cafe has a large selection of cycling memorabilia. The Gibbet Fruit Cake is a perennial favourite (the gibbet is a gallows on the run in to the village, if coming from the Newcastle direction).
Tel: 01830 520389

PARKHEAD STATION HOUSE & B&B & TEA ROOMSStanhope Moor, Stanhope, Co. Durham, DL13 2ES
A haven on the remote moors, Parkhead is 100 miles into the C2C route, and 1500m above sea level. What was a goods-only collieries train station now serves cyclists and walkers vegetable broth, bacon sarnies, soups and cakes. The rule is if the door’s open, please come in – being out on the moors they won’t turn customers away, and if you’re caught in inclement weather there’s spare clothes and a drying room, as well as secure bike storage, and overnight accommodation. Groups are asked to order ahead as it’s a 50 mile round trip to the shops.ParkheadStation@aol.com. Tel: 01388 526434.Mon-Sun 09.00-17.00

PHOENIX CYCLE CAFEHedley on the Hill NE437SW
The Phoenix Cycle Cafe is new, and on Northumberland’s 40-mile Lead Road cycle route. There’s secure cycle storage on site as well as a track pump.Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.30pm. Saturday 9.30am to 5.30pm, Sunday & Bank Holidays9am to 3pm.

THE CYCLE HUBQuayside, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE6 1BU
On both the C2C and Hadrian’s Cycleway Cycle Hub, a “focal point for cycling in Newcastle” welcomes all from toddlers to pensioners, Dutch tourists to tourers. The bike workshop, shop and cafe are complemented by an events calendar of maintenance courses, first aid for cyclists, and guided rides for all levels.enquiries@thecyclehub.org. Tel: 0191 276 7250; enquiries@thecyclehub.orgMon-Fri 09.00-18.00; weekends 10.00-18.00

PEDALLING SQUARESThe Old Brassworks, Quality Row Road, Whickham Bank NE16 3AQ
“I wanted to bring a little bit of Looks Mum No Hands to Newcastle,” says Eric Murphy, owner of Pedalling Squares, a cycling cafe which opened in February 2014 in a former 19th century brass works. He travelled around the country checking out other cycling cafes and then set to work on his own. He’s a self-confessed bike geek, with a love of grand tour cycle races. His cafe shows the major races on a big screen. Pedalling Squares is based in Swalwell, south of the Tyne, not far from the Gateshead Metrocentre. It’s at the base of Whickham Bank – Col de Whickham – an ideal stopping/starting point for roadies doing hill work or MTBers heading out to Chopwell Woods, heart of the local mountain bike scene. Non-cycling locals can’t ignore the fact this is a cycling cafe – by the entrance there are hooks for hanging up customer’s bikes. “We don’t mind how mucky they are,” says Murphy. (The bikes as well as the customers).info@pedallingsquares.com. Tel: 191 230 4334

FAUSTO COFFEESt. Georges Terrace, Roker, Sunderland, SR6louise@fausto.coffee. Tel: 07447425158
Named for the 1950s cycling icon Fausto Coppi this little cafe is close to the end of the C2C cycle route. Arrive on a bike and you’ll get a 10 percent discount.

TOMLINSON’S CAFE & BUNKHOUSEBridge Street, Rothbury, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 7SF
Named after the reverend who brought education to Rothbury, Tomlinson’s, the Grade II listed schoolhouse is now a cafe with cycle hire, a bunkhouse and views over the river Coquet. Tomlinson’s offers itself to cyclists and walkers as a base for exploration of Northumberland National Park. The low-cost bunkhouse, spread over three rooms, sleeps 21. There’s secure bike parking, periodic bike doctors and guided rides.info@tomlinsons-rothbury.co.uk. Tel: 01669 621979Cafe open Mon-Sun 09.00-17.30; Summer (Easter-Sept) open late Thurs-Sat until 23.00

KIRKLEY CYCLESThorneyford Farm, Kirtley, Portland, Northumberland NE20 0AJ
Thorneyford farm in Northumberland, twelve miles from Newcastle, has been Kirtley Cycles since 2012, a bike shop and workshop with a cafe. It has grown by becoming a social hub. Kirkley Cycles stages cyclo-cross races; it is the start venue for the Tour of Northumberland road race; it hosts Go-Ride coaching sessions for kids on Saturday mornings; it has hands-on sessions for would-be mechanics; and it has become the out-of-town rendezvous for a number of road clubs. The owner is a cat-4 roadie.
Tel: 01661 871094 Tuesday-Sunday 9-4pm

YORKSHIRE

PAVILION CAFE BARCity Park, Bradford, BD1 1LA
The Pavilion Cafe Bar is in the heart of Bradford, close to National Cycle Network Route 66, and just around the corner from Bradford’s famous Media Museum.
Tel: 01274 307622Mon-Sat: 08:00–20:00. Sun: 10:00–18:00

YOUR BIKE SHED148/150 Micklegate, York, YO1 6JX
Bike workshop and cafe proud of its food, coffee and friendly environment whether you cycle or not. There’s seating for more than 50 people, with an open plan kitchen serving home cooked food from ‘Yorkshire breakfasts’ to cakes, soups, salads and sandwiches. The basement gallery has bike frames, art, seating and an events space, with custom bike builds in the workshop, standard bike repairs and servicing and, where possible, repairs while you wait.info@yourbikeshed.co.uk. Tel: 01904 633777.Mon-Sat 09.00-17.00; Sun 10.00-16.00

PROLOGUE3-4 Wellington House, Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, HG2 0NA
Prologue is a high-end road bike shop in Harrogate, and it has a cafe serving Cycling Club Sandwiches and other sarnies such as the cycle-themed Vuelta Belter and the Giro d’Italia. There are widescreens for watching Grand Tours and the Classics.info@prologuecycling.co.uk.Tel: 01423 503000Mon–Sat 8:30am–5:30pm. Sun 9am–4pm.

DALES BIKE CENTREParks Barn, Fremington, North Yorkshire, DL11 6AW
The bunkhouse, cafe, hire centre and workshop are all part of this road and off-road trails cycling hub in the Dales with a shop selling new bikes, ex-hire bikes, clothing and kit. Guided MTB rides, social rides and maps are available, along with MTB training. The cafe offers cakes, sarnies and soups from local produce with a Dales view.enquiries@dalesbikecentre.co.uk. Tel: 01748 884908.Open daily 09.30-17.00

FIREBOX CAFE & STAGE1 CYCLESStation Yard, Burtersett Road, Hawes, North Yorkshire, DL8 3NT.
The Firebox cafe and Stage1 cycles are owned and run by the same husband and wife team, and based at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes, which doubles up as the Yorkshire Dales National Park Visitors Centre.ride@stage1cycles.co.uk. Tel: 01969 666873Open daily, 9-5.

VELOCITY CAFE & BICYCLE WORKSHOP1 Crown Avenue, Inverness, IV2 3NF
Velocity is a social enterprise where any profit goes to promoting cycling in Inverness, including via the Go ByCycle outreach team, which provides maintenance classes, safer routes workshops and confidence building rides, among other things. Cafe punters are invited to sip “bicyclattes” and “campagcinos” from a retro cup collection, to wash down locally home-baked cakes. There’s social rides and live music, too.hello@velocitylove.co.uk. Tel: 01463 419956.Daily: 09.00-17.00; until 21.00 on Thursdays

DEBBIE’SAr Dachaidh, Isle of Islay PA49 7UN
The village shop and post office at Bruichladdich doubles as a deli and a cafe – and with a stonking sea view. Debbie’s is also the coffee stop of cult micro-cycling club Velo Club d’Ardbeg, as well as the start and finish point for the club’s annual Ride of the Falling Rain.
Tel: 01496 8503199am-5.30pm Mon-Sat.

WALES

PEDAL POWER CAFEDogo Street, Cardiff CF11 9JJ.
Pedal Power Cafe in Bute Park, and its second hire centre in Cardiff Bay, offer two-wheelers, tandems and e-bikes, to all ability bikes, go-karts and six-seater pedal cars. The Taff Trail is near both centres, a 55-mile ride north to Brecon. The Bute Park (Pontcanna) cafe serves home-cooked food, including gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options and Fairtrade coffee. There’s group social rides, too, and training for group leaders and those riding with disabled cyclists.info@cardiffpedalpower.org. Tel: 029 2039 0713.Pontcanna Summer opening hours (April-September): Daily 09.00-18.00; Winter (October-March) 09.00-16.00

PLAN2RIDE51 Merthyr Road, Tongwynlais, Cardiff CF15 7LG
Plan2Ride is a new-for-2016 cafe-and-bike-servicing-hub situated in the village of Tongwynlais on a junction between two bike trails, the Taff Trail and the Rhymney Ridgeway. Order a locally-made gluten-free flapjack or brownie while your bike is in for repair. Tel: 029 20810868